The company on Wednesday opened an investment centre in Chennai, its seventh outlet in the city, and is considering opening two more. It plans to open outlets in Madurai, Tiruchi and Coimbatore.

An investment centre is a retail facility where customers can get free advice on where, when and how to invest their money.

With Bajaj Capital getting the broking licence, it will also offer life and general insurance in addition to other investment opportunities.

It has 86 outlets in the country and plans to take the number up to 100 over the next six months.

The company''s CEO and Director, Mr Anil Chopra, told reporters that the company is set to handle over Rs 7,000 crore of investors'' money, what it calls "assets under management," this year as against Rs 5,000 crore last year. Bajaj Capital''s assets under management have grown by about 100 per cent against its average growth of about 70 per cent.

Over 60 per cent of its total clientele consist of individual investors; the rest are corporate.

The company is expanding its presence in the South because the region has contributed most to the growth in the economy, and more people are investing, he said.